SINCE you went out of the town, my lord Clarendon was appointed envoy extraordinary to Hanover, in the room of lord Paget; and by making use of those friends, which I entirely owe to you, he has accepted me for his secretary. This day, by appointment, I met his lordship at Mr. secretary Bromley's office[2]: he then ordered me to be ready by Saturday. I am quite off from the duchess of Monmouth[3]. Mr. Lewis was very ready to serve me upon this occasion, as were Dr. Arbuthnot and Mr. Ford. I am every day attending my lord treasurer for his bounty, in order to set me out; which he has promised me upon the following petition, which I sent him by Dr. Arbuthnot:
The epigrammatical petition of John Gay.
I'm no more to converse with the swains,
But go where fine people resort:
One can live without money on plains,
But never without it at court
If, when with the swains I did gambol,
I array'd me in silver and blue;
When abroad, and in courts I shall ramble,
Pray, my lord, how much money will do?
- ↑ Endorsed, "The dean sent Gay abroad."
- ↑ Bromley was joint secretary with Bolingbroke.
- ↑ Mr. Gay had been secretary, or domestick steward, to the duchess, widow of the duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded in the first year of king James II.
